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It’s way too easy as a brown-eyed beauty to overlook the uniqueness of your own eye color — and to forget how much fun it can be to bring out your shade with makeup. But brown eyes are gorgeous, and there are are so many different highlights in dark eyes that you can unearth with just the right eyeshadow color and a few good makeup tricks. Pro makeup artists share the most flattering eyeshadows for brown eyes — get ready to get excited about your eye color and to try out a whole new batch of shades you never before considered.
Try Vibrant Shades That Pop
People with brown are lucky, says Makeup Artist and Beauty Expert Margina Dennis, because they can wear just about every non-brown shadow because it creates a contrast and makes the eyes pop more. “Picking colors that complement with skin’s undertones will keep the focus on the eyes and not the eyeshadow itself,” Dennis suggests. “Warm skin tones look good in warm greens (like olive,), gold, copper, fig, plum, prune, and maroon. Cool tones: Pewter, Navy, Pine Green, Turquoise, pink, lavender, mauve, grey, merlot, violet, and silver. Neutrals will work on everyone: bronze, taupe, platinum, peach, rose, sienna, orchid, eggplant, terracotta, burgundy, hunter green.”
Some eyeshadow brands that Dennis says she loves for brown eyes are the Laura Mercier Caviar sticks cool, warm, and neutral shades in different finishes; Clinique Best of Black Honey Shadow palette, which is full of neutrals that will work on everyone; Pur Cosmetics On Point Shadow palettes that have a good selection of colors for warm, cool, and neutral; Kiko Milano High Pigment eyeshadow (available in 54 shades), and Thrive Causemetics Focus Eyeshadow Palettes, which are vegan and offer shades that will make brown eyes pop.
Alexis Chapman, a professional makeup artist of 10+ years, also says that vibrant colors are great for giving brown eyes a pop and recommends gold, blue, green, yellow, orange, and even purple. “The brands that I love are MAC, Morphe, Coloured Raine, & Tarte,” Chapman said.
Which Shades Should Brown Eyes Avoid?
Even though you truly can wear nearly every eyeshadow shade under the sun, there are a few darker shades that may just get lost on you.
“Avoid wearing brown shadows alone because they are similar in color of the eye,” Dennis said. “If you do choose to wear a brown shadow, pair with a contrasting eyeliner that can pick up the undertone of the brown or flecks in the eyes (aubergine, eggplant, purple, hunter green, bronze, copper, violet, plum, fig) or make the eyes appear whiter (navy, midnight blue).”
Chapman suggests avoiding overly dark shadows like black, dark brown, and dark gray. “My daytime eyeshadow routine is 1) Apply an eyeshadow base and set it with a translucent powder,” Chapman said. “Depending on my eyeshadow color of choice is how I pick my crease color. My crease color is usually soft browns/mauves. I then directly apply my eyeshadow to the lid and finish it off with eyeliner and wispy lashes.”
Chapman says her nighttime eyeshadow routine is very similar. “I apply an eyeshadow base, set it, apply the crease colors, and before I apply the eyeshadow, I may cut the crease for a more defined look. I also like to smoke the corners for a little drama. I may also do more of a cat eyeliner and fuller lashes.”
If you have brown eyes, go bold or go home. (or, just rev up your favorite brown eyeshadow with a bit of bronze or purple to really make your eyes pop).
